Watch case



June 13, 1933. R. H. WHITEHEAD ET AL WATCH CASE Filed Dec. 2, 1931 4 INVENToRS Y Patented June 13, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-"lcs RICHARD H. WHITEHEAD, OF NEW HAVEN, AND ANSON W. MINER AND,FREDERICK W. BURNES, OF WATER/RUBY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS T0 TI-IE NEW HAVEN CLOCK C0., OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT WATCH CASE Application led December 2, 1931. Serial No. 578,464.

This invention relates to watch cases and, more particularly, to such eases adapted to enclose compact movements so that they may be worn on the wrist, and has for a general object the provision of such a case which is simple in construction, attractive in appearance, compact and easily and cheaply assembled.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of such a case built up of two shells shaped to cooperate to form seats for a crystal and a shallow back which cooperate to support the movement unit and assure a compact assembly.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a ease having an undercut seat formed at the face by the separation of the two shells in which is seated the bevelled edge of a flat flexible crystal held in position by compression. h

A still further object of the invention. 1s the provision of such a case provided with recesses formed in the inner surface thereof by cooperation of the two shells, the recesses being adapted to receive projections on a shallow back to secure the latter in position.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the watch case constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevational view of the watch case depicted in Fig. l, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevational view of a portion of the case, taken on lines 3*?) of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of a in seating the crystal and securing the back n in position. The cases of such watches have usually been constructed of a sufficient thickness to allow the machining of a seat for the crystal and the forming of a continuous seat .for a back frequently hinged to the case, or l pressure fitted thereon, which additionally increases the cost of construction. The seating of the crystals in such cases has been attended with many difficulties, usually resulting in many compromises in the seating and consequent sacrifices in secure seating and appearance. In accordance with the present invention these difficulties are eliminated by a simplicity of construction and assembly resulting in a compact case of minimum dimensions having an easily detachable back and unbreakable crystal.

In the drawing like numerals refer to like parts throughout. In plan view the watch case 5 in its preferred form is of an elongated shape sucli that substantially parallel opposed ends 6, 6 are formed, between which the sides are bowed outwardly to give a pleasing design. The bow of the sides, however,v is not of such a degree as to greatly increase the width of the case in the central portion. Strap mounting members 7 are secured to the outside of the case in any suitable manner, such as, for example, by brazing.

The case 5 is built up from two shell niembers 8 and 9, the inner shell member 8 being preferably provided adjacent the face of the ease with an angular facing 10 terminating in an inwardly extending flange 11. The outer shell 9 is fitted over the inner shell and secured thereto in any suitable manner, such as, for example, by a press fit and/or braZing. This outer shell is provided with a flange 11 lying adjacent to the angular facing 10 of the inner shell and extending therebeyond at 12 to form with the laterally extending flange 11 an under cut seat 13 adapted to receive the bevelled edge 1l of a crystal 15, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The inner shell 8 is provided with apertures 16 in the ends thereof closely adjacent the back of the case, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Preferably two of these apertures 16 are formed in each end of the inner shell 8, suitably spaced apart. These apertures, being backed by the outer shell 9, form re cesses to receive projections 17 on the shalloiv back 18. The sides of the case are cut away to conform to the curvature of the back as shown in Fig. 2.

The shallow back 18 is bowed slightly in tne central portion to conform to the curvature of the wrist, as shown in Fig. Q, and is provided with a flange 19 adapted to fit inside the inner shell S. Projections 17 for cooperation with the apertures 16 are formed on the flange 19 at each end of the back by striking portions thereof outwardly, as shown in Fig. 4. The curvature of the back allows the latter to lie closely adjacent the movement unit in the central portion to assure a minimum thickness while providing sufficient space at the ends of the case for the disposition of the back securing means, that is, the recesses 16 and projections 17.

The elements kof the movement are mounted between the movement plates 20, it) which are shaped to fit the contour of the inner shell. A dial plate 21 is mounted on the movement unit by any suitable means, such as, for example, a plurality of fingers 21 fitted into notches in and bent over the edge of the adjacent movement plate 2O as shown in Fig. 2.

A passage for the winding stem of the movement is provided through the wall of the case by a recess 22 and this is partially covered by a projecting member 23 on the back 1S.

The crystal 15 is preferably formed from a suitable flat sheet of flexible material such as Celluloid, shaped substantially to conform to the shape of the open face of the case, provided with a bevelled edge and of such dimensions that the bevelled edge 1% will securely seat within the undercut seat 13 and the crystal will be maintained in an arched position as shown in Figs. Z and 3. This crystal is mounted in the case by bowing the central portion thereof outwardly to decrease its over-all dimensions and seating the edges against the flange 11. llVhen released the crystal tends to resume its former shape resulting in an increase in the over-all dimensions and a secure seating of the bevelled edge 14. in the undercut seat 13. lVhen the dimensions of the crystal are properly proportioned to the dimensions of the seat in the case, the crystal is maintained in a smoothly arched shape and exerts pressure along its e( ges against the so that it is firmly held in place.

The movement unit of the watch is placed within the case with the face of the dial plate 21 bearing against the inner surface of the flange 11 as shown in Fig. 2. The back 18 is mounted in the case by telescoping the flange 19 with the inne-r shell S and forcing the former until the edge of the flange 19 engages the rear plate 2O of the movement unit and the projections 17 snap into the recesses 16. The movement unit is thus securely mounted in the case in the simple manner described which allows ready removal thereof and insures compactness of the assembly and a minimum cost.

In Fig. 5 means are shown for limiting the movement of the back with the case and for supporting the back. The inner shell 8 is provided with a plurality of stops 2li, preferably comprising struck out portions as shown, which engage the edge of the flange 19 of the back 18 and cooperate with the baci; securing means to support the baci; in a position to prevent it from applying excessive pressure on the movement unit.

By the use of a double shell construction an undercutseat for the crystal can be easily formed in the case by a simple separation of the two shells adjacent the face, provided by the shaping of each shell prior to the assembly thereof. This entirely eliminates any necessity of a machining opera tion to provide an undercut crystal seat.V

In addition the double shell construction allows the simple formation of recesses t-o aid in securing the back in position since they can be formed by providing apertures in the inner shell prior to its assembly within the outer shell. Only the simplest of operations is necessary to provide projections on the back to engage in these recesses since they can be formed by striking outwardly poi-,

tions of the flange of the shallow back.

By securing the baclr to the case in this manner the baci: can be constructed to extend beyond the movement a minimum dis tance in the center, while still providing adequate space for the securing means at the ends. By constructing the parts in the above manner and by properly fitting these parts prior to assembly, a tighter and more compact case can be readily produced than has been possible heretofore.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above are efficiently attained in accordance with the present invention.

Since certain changes may be made in the above product and different embodiments of the invention could be made without de* parting from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is to be understood that the features of the present invention are not limited to the particular design or shape of the casing depicted and described but are applicable to a variety of designs of odd-shaped watch cases and that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A Watch case comprising in combination, a double shell structure, a crystal and a back, the inner shell of said case cooperating with the outer shell to which it is permanently secured to form retaining seats for said crystal and said back.

2. A watch case comprising in combination, an inner shell, an outer shell. fitted over and secured to said inner shell, an undercut seat formed at the face of said case by separation of said shells, recesses formed on the inner surface of said case by apertures in said inner shell backed by said outer shell, a crystal having a bevelled edge seated in said undercut seat, a back and projections on said back seated in said recesses.

3. A watch case comprising in combination, a shell having a plurality of recesses in its inner surface, means on said case to engage a movement unit, a back, means on said back to seat in said recesses to hold said back in position and means on said back to engage a movement unit and seat the latter against said first mentioned cngaging means.

4. A watch case comprising in combination, a shell having a plurality of recessesk in its inner surface, a seat in said case for a movement unit, a back, projections on said back adapted to engage in said recesses to hold said back in position and means on said back to engage a movement unit and hold the latter against said 5. A watch case comprising in combination, an inner shell having a plurality of apertures therethrough, an outer shell fitted over said inner shell, a back, and projections on said back adapted to engage in the recesses in said case formed by the apertures in said inner shell backed by said outer shell.

6. A Watch case comprising in combination, an inner shell having a plurality of apertures therethrough, an outer shell fitted over said inner shell, a back provided with a flange along the edge thereof of a dimension to fit Within said inner shell and a plurality of projections formed on said flange adapted to engage in the recesses in said case formed by the apertures in said inner shell backed by said outer shell.

7. A noncircular watch case having opposite ends adapted for strap attachment comprising in combination, an inner shell having a plurality of apertures near the edge in each of the opposed ends, an outer shell fitted over said inner shell, a shallow back having a flange along the edge thereof of a dimension to fit within said inner shell and a plurality of projections struck out from the flange on each end of said bach adapted to be engaged in the recesses in said case formed by the apertures in said inner shell backed by said outer shell when said back is pressed into position.

8. A Watch case comprising in combination, a back, an inner shell having an in- Wardly extending flange at the face of said case and an outer shell fitted over rsaid inner shell and permanently secured thereto, said outer shell being separated from said inner shell at the face of said case to form with the inwardly extending flange of said inner shell an undercut seat to receive the bevelled edge of a crystal, said shells cooperating to form a retaining seat for said back.

9. A Watch case comprising in combination, a back, an inner shell, an outer shell fitted over said inner shell and permanently secured thereto, said shells being separated at the face of said watch to form an undercut seat, and a flexible crystal haviY a bevelled edge sprung into position with the bevelled edge thereof seated in the undercut seat, said shells cooperating to form concealed retaining seats for said back.

l0. A non-circular watch case comprising in combination, a back having seating proj ections thereon, an inner shell having an angu-4 lar facing adjacent the face of said case, an inwardly extending flange formed on said inner shell adjacent the angular facing, an outer shell fitted over and permanently secured. to said inner shell, a flange formed. on said outer shell lying adjacent and extending beyond the angular facing of said inner shell, an undercut seat formed by said inwardly extending flange and said outer sl l flange and a flexible crystal having a beiy led edge sprung into position witn the bevelled edge thereof seated in the undercut seat, ysaid inner shell having a plurality of apertures therethrough backed by said outer shell to cooperate therewith to form concealed seats for said projections on said back, the latter being adapted to t within said inner shell when seated.

1l. A watch case comprising in combination, an inner shell having a plurality of apertures therethrough, an outer shell fitted over said inner shell, a back, project-ions on said back adapted to engage in the recesses in said case formed by the apertures in said inner shell backed by said outer shell7 and stops provided on said inner shell adapted to engage said back when in position to cooperate with said apertures and projections in supporting` said back.

1Q. i Watch case comprising in combination, an inner shell having a plurality of apertures therethrough, an outer shell fitted over said inner shell7 a back provided with a flange along the edge thereof el. a dilnension to lit 'within said inner shell, a plurality of projections formed on said flange adapted to engage in 'the recesses in said case formed by the apertures in said inner shell backed said outer shell, and a plurality el stops provided on said inner shell adapted to engage the edge or" the flange on said baek when in position to cooperate with said a aertures and projections in supporting` said back.

13. l non-circular Watch case having opposite ends adapted for strap attachment comprising` in coinbii ation, an inner shell having a pluralityY of apertures near 'the edge in each oic the opposed ends, an outer shell tted over said inner shell, a shallonT back having aI liange along the edge thereof of a dimension to lit Within said inner shell, a plurality et project-ions struck out from the flange on each end of said baek adapted to be engaged in the recesses in said ease 'orined by the apertures in said inner shell backed by said outer shell when said back is pressed into position, and a plurality of stops struck out frein said inner shell adapted to engage the edge ot the flange on said back when in position to Cooperate with said apertures and projections in supporting said back.

lll. A Watch ease comprising in combination, a shell having` a plurality7 of recesses in its inner surface, a seat in said ease lor a inoyeinent unit, a baek7 projections on said back adapted to engage in said recesses to hold said back in position, means on said back to engage a nim/ement unit and hold the latter against said seat, andL stops on said shell to prevent said back from applyingr excessive pressure on the inoyeinent unit.

n testimony whereof We affix our signatures.

RICHARD H. WHITEHEAD. ANSON W. MINER. FREDEPJCK W. BURNES. 

